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Chelsea And Liverpool Fail To Make Top-Four Inroads  (Sky Sports)

Liverpool 0 Chelsea 0

Mykhailo MudrykLiverpool and Chelsea played out a goalless draw as the recent struggles of both teams were laid bare on a cold afternoon at Anfield.

Kai Havertz had an early goal disallowed for offside but the game failed to ignite thereafter. Mykhailo Mudryk did impress for Chelsea off the bench following his move from Shakhtar Donetsk and had a number of opportunities to mark the occasion with a goal.

But the two teams remain locked level on points in midtable. Jurgen Klopp's side have to settle for ending their two-game losing streak in the Premier League, while Graham Potter's side are now on a run of six matches away from home without a win in the competition.

Player ratings

Liverpool: Alisson (7), Milner (5), Gomez (6), Konate (6), Robertson (7), Bajcetic (5), Thiago (6), Keita (5), Elliott (5), Salah (5), Gakpo (5).

Subs: Nunez (6), Alexander-Arnold (6), Henderson (6), Jones (6), Fabinho (5).

Chelsea: Kepa (7), Hall (6), Chalobah (6), Silva (8), Badiashile (6), Cucurella (6), Jorginho (6), Gallagher (7), Mount (6), Ziyech (7), Havertz (6).

Subs: Mudryk (7), Aubameyang (6), Azpilicueta (6), Chukwuemeka (6).

Player of the match: Thiago Silva.

How the game unfolded at Anfield

It was almost a dramatic start when Havertz thought he had scored following a corner but the replays showed he was clearly offside when Thiago Silva struck the post with the initial attempt. The Brazilian's effort would have been allowed if he had found the net.

That disallowed goal proved a sign of things to come with Liverpool struggling to deal with the set-pieces. It was a feature of the game with Benoit Badiashile almost opening the scoring just after the half-hour mark only for Alisson to save from close range.

Liverpool looked nervous and they were wasteful in attack too. Cody Gakpo, still searching for his first goal for the club, blazed over twice, while the usually reliable Mohamed Salah either miskicked wildly or curled the ball over tamely when in his favourite zone.

It was an error-strewn affair, a stray pass here, a ball miscontrolled there. It was surprising given the quality of the players but perhaps to be expected given the form of the two teams. Languishing in midtable, confidence is clearly lacking, everything looks a struggle.

Mudryk changed the mood somewhat, all flicks, tricks and purposeful passing. He skinned James Milner for pace, forcing Klopp to swiftly send for Trent Alexander-Arnold, but even Mudryk did not bring the breakthrough, wasting two good chances on the angle.

Potter will take the positives from that and hope the new signing can be a catalyst for further improvement. Klopp, in his 1000th game in management, is still searching for something that works. Neither side are showing the form needed to trouble the top four.

The game in stats

Liverpool and Chelsea have now played out three consecutive goalless draws in all competitions.

This is the first time that Liverpool have failed to score in consecutive Premier League games since March 2021.

Chelsea are now without a win in their last six Premier League games on the road, their longest run in the competition since 2015.

Jurgen Klopp took charge of the 1,000th game of his managerial career (441 with Liverpool, 319 with Borussia Dortmund and 270 with Mainz).

Since his first season in the Premier League, no manager has overseen more goalless draws than Graham Potter (16), at least twice as many as any other manager.

Since his debut for Liverpool, no Premier League player has had more shots without scoring in all competitions than Cody Gakpo (12).

Stefan Bajcetic is the youngest player to start a Premier League game for Liverpool since Ben Woodburn and the youngest Spaniard for any Premier League side since Cesc Fabregas.

Cesar Azpilicueta today made his 500th appearance for Chelsea in all competitions, becoming the first non-English player to reach that milestone for the club.

What's next?

Liverpool turn their attention to the FA Cup, where they visit Brighton on January 29, kick-off 1.30pm. Their next Premier League game is a trip to Wolves on February 4; kick-off 3pm.

Jurgen Klopp's side then have a very busy February which includes a Merseyside derby at home to Everton, live on Monday Night Football. Liverpool also travel to Newcastle and Crystal Palace in that month, either side of hosting Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16.

Chelsea have next weekend off as they were eliminated from the FA Cup in the third round at Man City. Their next game is a west London derby at home to Fulham, live on Friday Night Football on February 3.

The Blues have two London derbies to contend with in February, travelling to West Ham and Tottenham at the start and end of the month. Their other games in February see them host Southampton and travel to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last-16.

Teams

Liverpool Alisson, Milner (c) (Alexander-Arnold 72), Gomez, Konate, Robertson, Bajcetic (Fabinho 82), Thiago, Keita (Nunez 63), Elliott (Henderson 82), Gakpo (Jones 82), Salah
Subs Not Used Kelleher, Matip, Tsimikas, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Booked Bajcetic, Milner, Jones
Goals

Chelsea Kepa, Chalobah (Azpilicueta 81), Badiashile, Silva, Cucurella, Jorginho (c), Gallagher, Ziyech, Mount (Chukwuemeka 82), Hall (Mudryk 55), Havertz Aubameyang 81)
Subs Not Used Bettinelli, Humphreys, Koulibaly, Loftus-Cheek, D. Fofana
Booked Chalobah
Goals

Attendance 53,126

Referee Michael Oliver

VAR John Brooks